Nikkei opens 0.29 pct higher on better economic data

TOKYO, May 16 (Xinhua) -- Nikkei opened 0.29 percent higher and hit its highest level in about five years and four months Thursday on the back of better-than-expected Japanese gross domestic product data.

At 9:15 a.m., the 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average was up 43.53 points, or 0.29 percent, from Wednesday at 15,139.56, after climbing to as high as 15,155.72, its highest intraday level since Jan. 4, 2008.

The broader Topix index of all First Section issues on the Tokyo Stock Exchange was up 3.13 points, or 0.25 percent, to 1,255. 98.